Perks For Board Members: New Horizons Truth Or Dare GAME

Update February 20, 2019:

Check out our page titled Exceptional Leadership Essentials for added details about our Truth Or Dare GAME philosophical underpinnings.

Update January 15, 2019: 

In the early days of the Truth Or Dare GAME Community, inaugurated on December 1, 1985, by our GAME mentor, Martin G. Groder, M.D., the original community members, operating under the appellation, the Discount Derby GAME Community, decided to call themselves the "Truth Squad."

Recently the "new" Truth Or Dare GAME Community Members agreed to also take up this name as its formal designation. The original Truth Squad, also, had a pledge-type song.  I, Anastasia, came across it not long ago and have now misplaced it. However when I locate it again, we will share it and use it once more.

Original November 1, 2018 post begins below.

On the other side of chaos, New Horizons Truth Or Dare GAME!

Last Saturday marked the third monthly gathering of the New Horizons Board of Directors to play our famous/infamous healing and transforming GAME, Truth Or Dare, formerly called the Discount Derby.

The experience of chaos in today’s world, especially in male-female relationships can bring a person of good conscience to despair. I know I feel it myself, sometimes so strongly I don’t quite know how to enter a day.

On the up side, however, is the New Horizons Truth Or Dare GAME (formerly the Discount Derby) now, finally, back in full motion, really and truly (after countless aborted plans)!

When it comes to a tried and true remedy for the divisiveness rampant running throughout the U.S.A. and beyond, our GAME is it, epitomizing the notion offered us by the following words of Mahatma Gandhi!

"We do best to begin by carving out territories or zones of peace in our personal relations where violence and deceit won't be used." 

The notion of focusing on “zones of peace” in a world run amuck, originating in these words of Gandhi, are words to live by at New Horizons where we have been actively committed to creating and sustaining small “zones of peace” all the way back to 1973!

And, now that we have, at last, brought our GAME back into dynamic, full of life, moving forward motion, updated now for the 21st Century, you are going to be hearing more and more about this community-unity model we have been developing for over forty-five years!

Right now our first objective is to support our board members in getting out of the disturbances, even chaos that most seem to be facing, in one way or another, in this frightening, crazy-making world in which we are presently living. As time progresses, by invitation only, we will be carefully and cautiously adding new GAME players to this core.

Find out how you can be one of them!

For starters, allow me to share one superficially small, but truly monumental gain from Saturday’s GAME. 

Terry, one of our board members, living in Northern California lost her home in July -- and ---all her earthly possessions, including animals, to the Carr Fire in Redding, leaving her entire family temporarily homeless though now reestablished in interim housing. 

Following our GAME event, Terry reported leaving our GAME day which she entered feeling overwhelmed and despairing due to the many devastating losses she has been facing -- and was only able to attend by conference call -- feeling grounded and hopeful!

Can you imagine topping that in many other places in this world of ours run amuck?

Attendance at New Horizons Truth or Dare GAME is freebies for board members. 

However over time you, too, may qualify to attend, even by conference call, if necessary and appropriate.

We will be sharing our GAME adventure as we go, along with some sharing from past GAME community stories that will let you know just how awesome New Horizons Truth Or Dare GAME was, is and can be again in the future. 

Next month we meet again on Saturday, November date tba.

You will be able to read about it here.

Look for details on how you can become eligible to participate, including qualifying for a free ticket to New Horizons’ “famous/infamous” Truth Or Dare GAME!

Contact Anastasia for more details and information, including personal coaching and consulting to help you move “beyond gender tyranny,” our GAME’s highest intent presently.

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Making Violence Obsolete Debuts Penultimate Conflict Resolution Process

As of Tuesday evening, New Horizons introduced its “Council of Elders” methodology; a primo New Horizons' passageway for trekking to the other side of conflict and the transforming of personal and collective lead into gold, reaching the peak of the Mountain of Awe and other good things.

It’s A Love Bath!

How can resolving a conflict become a “love bath”? 

Check it out for yourself. That’s how you can come to “know” it. 

One thing it isn’t, however, is akin to our national politics!

There is no way that a group of humans can easily, imperfect as we are, make the proper advances, to grow and become more than we started off being. Yet conflict resolution, community-style, offers one of the best, most scenic routes we know!  And, in our mode, the most loving!  Tough love that it is!

So in our view, that’s the deal; conflict resolution, community-style, for evolving one’s consciousness and the behaviors that support the higher levels of human functioning; the transforming of the lead of our innate humanity into the gold of our living potential.

So how do we attain such riches?

The full truth here is that you really have to live it to know it. But I will give you a few glimpses of the landscape here, New Horizons style. 

At New Horizons conflict resolution is the foremost vehicle that enables said changes. Based on our decade’s old procedures of conducting intra-community “truth and reconciliation” processes the results are, over time, nearly miraculous, or so it seems. 

Certainly our methodology has, over the past forty years plus, transformed the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of individuals, relationships and families.

You can tell we are very proud of this!  Right?

However there are so many layers of complexity to the overall process; so many twists and turns that it takes, that I am not going to be able to readily create a clear picture of all that our finely honed methodology incorporates. Nonetheless, I offer you the following highlights achieved so far as we begin getting off the ground with our latest endeavor. 

In summary, here is how our adventure is unfolding, along with some of the key New Horizon’s principles at play. 

• Our experiment which is having its first “official” session tomorrow held its very first “Truth and Reconciliation” effort (i.e. the Council of Elders) Tuesday evening;
• This was brought about due to one of our members having a conflict with me (Anastasia), calling into play the serious preparation for and implementation of a “Council of Elders” meeting, conducted for four long, intense hours (in addition to all the prep time and post processing needed);
• Principle: The assembling of a “Truth and Reconciliation” meeting (i.e. the Council of Elders) to guide and direct the alchemy of “lead into gold” is our almost highest endeavor on the pathway of “Making Violence Obsolete.” (The very highest is our weekend/week long “Truth or Dare Game,” formerly called the “Discount Derby. To be introduced/re-introduced in some, not as yet defined future.)
• Principle: With this undertaking, our basic “experiment” premise can be realized. 

“The Premise” is this --

"Violence “could” become obsolete, “someday”, if we start, now, doing more and more of the right things and, together, stop doing the “wrong” ones!”

Nothing that we know of can spotlight the "what not to do" and the "what to do" as impactfully as this process.

What our process has accomplished so far ---

• Conflict between a community member and Anastasia aired publicly (in our New Horizons counterculture community “public).”
• Subtle violence in a moderately abusive couple’s relationship within our budding community was re-routed (merely first baby steps taken but steps nonetheless) via the process of the guidance and role modeling of our "Community Elders” and a more public airing of that relationship than formerly and its hurtful dynamics (i.e. it “takes a village.”)
• Our budding community beginning to coalesce as a “real” community entity (no pain, no real gain).
• Role modeling of our “lean in legacy template” process, was seen in action and became clearer to community members as to how to live it. 
• The notions of “leadership as a lifestyle” and “communication and relationship as art" became more tangible through the personal and collective experience of our process;

Wondering what really occurred in a visual and experiential way? 

Well we know this is a good bit vague here but we anticipate being able to bring our "Council of Elders" process to you via YouTube sometime in the future.

Nonetheless, for now, I will plan on filling in some of the details on this site and the challenges and rewards as they unfold.

The best way, however, to know for yourself that the “pain is worth the gain” (i.e. a “love bath”) of such a process is to join in with our developing “Making Violence Obsolete” movement and our Counterculture Community Development Experiment if you qualify.

Here is how you can get involved.

For details and information:
Contact Anastasia at 240.409.5347

or email us at: HarpersFerryNH@aol.com

Turning Lead Into Gold: Principles and Practices

Sohbet/study group #3 is on its way!

(See general sohbet/study group overview at this link.)

Open to all qualified Possible Human, Possible Society Study participants

•  “A sohbet is an informal discussion with a purpose.” (Murat Yagan);

  

  Lead into gold?

•  New Horizons’ sohbet is a learning laboratory for personal and collective growth and development -- an advanced Coffee House Conversation for those with the highest of aspiractions for personal and collective transformation;

• New Horizons sohbet is an informal discussion with a purpose, designed especially for our study participants;
•  New Horizons sohbet  is one, exemplary, way to contribute to making a better world.

Date: Thursday, February 27. Time: 6:30 pm.

Location: Your telephone to our conference call-in forum. (Details.)

Would you like to, purposefully, turn lead into gold,

personally and collectively?

Sohbet Study Group #3 leads off with the following ---

Quote from Murat, Ahmsta Kebzeh: The Science of Universal Awe, Volume II, page 5.

"Alchemists worked throughout history to obtain what they called the philosopher’s stone, the elixir, the universal panacea, working successfully to transmute various metals in the complicated laboratories that they built. However, according to Ahmsta Kebzeh the true laboratory of the universal open for the sublime work is in the nervous system of Human and it is therefore at the disposal of all humanity."

Details and reservations:

Anastasia at: zonesofpeacenh@aol.com

Presented as a Tribute to Murat Yagan (1915 – 2013)

In celebration of a well-lived life

and

New Horizons’ hopes and dreams to learn and pass on what we learn.

A snowy night, indoors and --

--   an unexpected “Lead into Gold Study Group” for those with the highest of aspirations for personal and collective transformation.

What are the options for a cozy evening when a massive snow storm hits, consigning almost everyone to stay indoors; travel perilous?

How about an (almost) coffee house conversation from your living room to mine, without anyone leaving the house?

That’s just what a small group of Possible Human, Possible Society Study participants created last Thursday evening when the whole of the Eastern seaboard, coming up from the South, was paralyzed by snow.

Mother Nature gave our “new” New Horizons’ changing "lead into gold-themed study group" an unexpected, early second gathering. Our physical mobility might have been limited but not that of our minds. Thus we came together for our second sohbet/study group via conference call.  Out and about in that venue while still warm, safe and cozy in our own homes. 

Oh, the wonders of modern technology.

(Jack and I rescheduled the February 13 Possible Society In Motion Radio Show for next Thursday, February 20. The notion occurred to us that a more informal hangin’ out with folks might be more in the way of a community-building service for that night than any topic we might choose. Given the frustrations, limitations – and – benefits of our severe weather, so it seemed to turn out.)

The idea that “a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world,” (Margaret Mead) is the rationale behind this study group.

For discussion material we are drawing from the accumulated works of Murat Yagan, New Horizons’ community development mentor (recently deceased) to open these conversations. Then encouraging the group to go anywhere and everywhere our “informal discussion with a purpose” (called “sohbet” in Murat’s native language) leads us.

Exploring our individual viewpoints on the term “alchemy” was the point of discussion for this snow-bound, Thursday evening conversation. It must have been worthy for participants, as our energetic conversation lasted for better than one and one-half hours.

Drawing from Murat’s writings, we will, for a time, follow the line of thought quoted, here, from Murat’s native ancient traditions of the Caucasus Mountains (where Sochi, the current site of the Winter Olympics, is located) –

 "Alchemists worked throughout history to obtain what they called the philosopher’s stone, the elixir, the universal panacea, working successfully to transmute various metals in the complicated laboratories that they built. However, according to Ahmsta Kebzeh the true laboratory of …”

…humanity is within the Self and our relationships to one another, as well as to our environment.

With this as a starting point, the fun of this next program, especially designed for Possible Human, Possible Society Study participants, is really about to begin!

New Horizons, Jack and myself thank all of you who have already joined us to participate with this new sohbet/study group expansion. Having amply explored, stretched etc. etc. the definition of "alchemy," we think we are on our way, now. This added endeavor takes us one step closer, small though it may be, to being the best possible humans we can be, individually and collectively, building our possible society.

If you are a participant in our Possible Human, Possible Society Study, you are welcome to join us!

Details and Information

Anastasia at:

zonesofpeacenh@aol.com or cell: 240.409.5347

Study participants, please contact Anastasia for next study group date and conference call-in number and access code. Study groups are audio recorded so you can, also, catch up with us through these, if you choose.

Turning lead into gold to be theme of new study group

New Program Announcement!

A new, ongoing study group, facilitated by Anastasia, exclusively for Possible Human, Possible Society Study participants, commenced last Thursday evening.

Presented as a Tribute to Murat Yagan (1916 – 2014)

In celebration of a well-lived life

Details and Information

Anastasia at:

zonesofpeacenh@aol.com or cell: 240.409.5347

Study participants, please contact Anastasia for next study group date and call-in number and access code.

Murat Yagan, 1915 -- 2013
and Anastasia 

Turning the ideal into the real

Chopping wood, shoveling snow: high ideals and practical applications

Last Sunday was a beautiful day out here in the mountains where New Horizons is slowly but surely revitalizing its training and retreat center. Our concern that day was, however, not much about the ideal. Rather it was the ordinary demanding  our attention. We had only two sticks of wood left from our former abundant supply, courtesy of Bobby Lowery, sawmill owner. And, a severe snowstorm with another period of freezing temperatures was on its way.

Saturday night I looked at the dwindling remnants of firewood, knowing that wood gathering was top priority. OMG! On the one hand, we might be just fine. And, on the other we might be at risk; without electricity etc. for days. You just never know how things will fall out here, especially in these days of extreme weather conditions.

We had a good plan, however, based, for sure, on the principle of “leaning in.” By early afternoon we were well on our way; “doing” that which New Horizons represents; not merely talking community-unity, but doing and being it.

The trio at hand-- Sue, chairperson of our remodeling committee with her truck, Chris, our handy man with his heavy-duty chainsaw, and me, the best-intentioned gofer when it comes to practical endeavors such as wood gathering -- was well-aligned with our intentions to care for our small zone of peace; first things first; high ideals -- and -- practical applications.

(I can, still, barely change a light bulb. So you know success, other than organizing projects and bringing people together would, for sure, not rest on me. It takes a village, even a teeny, tiny one, right?)

Long story short: Off we went to the wooded areas of our retreat center property to assure winter storm survival out here.

Within a brief few hours, we had cut (that’s Chris), gathered, hauled, loaded and unloaded the truck (Chris, Sue and I) and stacked enough wood, two and one-half truckloads, indoors to last for a time. We would definitely make it through the cold, snowy days to come; all done with optimum, harmonious pulling together. Synergy, ummm, good!

Laughing and refreshed by the rare, above fifty degree weather and sunshine, Sue marveled at how well we had all worked together.

I tell you this story to bring home one important, but relatively small point:

High ideals and practical applications are what is behind New Horizons’ devotion to Murat Yagan and the prototypical Kebzeh community he built around him in Vernon, B.C.. Synergy, ummm, good!

Working well together, that’s how we all should/could be; "one for all and all for one"; averting crises. Certainly not passively allowing them to infiltrate our lives or, worse, propagating and perpetuating them.

New Horizons, unlike those who have, for many years, lived near Murat as have his students in Vernon, B.C., is not a spiritually-based community development effort.  No, indeed!

Humane and ethical principles, spiritual or not, are not dependent, however, upon one like-minded ideology as practiced by those in Vernon in their very exceptional community. The community traditions of ancient Abkhazia, as Murat has passed them on, can be interpreted and applied to all kinds and colors of people – and – collective endeavors. Any community, group or organization that wishes to and puts forth the effort, as New Horizons has done, can develop, over time, into an exceptional community.

New Horizons, as it is today, teaches community development skills and mentors individuals, groups, organizations and small communities to overcome polarization. Our methodology; much of it derived from Murat (and my earlier mentor, Martin G. Groder, M.D.), thus, helps  people develop into exceptional community participants. Be they leaders or followers.

Teaching people the fine art of building bridges across the rivers of diversity that separate us from one another in modern, mainstream America is our aim.  If this is what you are after, you learn to keep whatever has the potential to divide to the side and go for the common ground at its highest. Be it spiritual, cultural, gender-based and/or political.

Thus, last Sunday, one hard-core hermit, Chris, one former anti-Semitic, recovering Jewish American princess (me) and dear Quaker Sue, had a grand time working happily together to assure warmth for a possibly endangered mountain side dwelling; the New Horizons training and retreat center.

As happy as the birds outside my window, now, feasting at the bird feeder, Sue and I put the show and tell steps of Murat’s Seven Ways to Knowledge aside and simply got into the doing, the feeling (oh so happy) and the being. Which is, of course, how real deal peace buddies do it!

Murat’s Seven Steps To Personal and Collective Transformation

The Treasure Trove

By way of introduction to some of the key principles New Horizons has taken from Murat Yagan’s teachings of the ancient traditions of his native Abkhazian people, called Kebzeh, we invite our readers to visit this page. It is  as one, very tiny open portal into the vast body of knowledge, guidance and wisdom Murat has left for us all as his legacy.

This page is offered by New Horizons in grateful appreciation and acknowledgement of Murat and his immeasurable support and love. It has been through Murat, his wisdom and inordinate adeptness, as a guide and teacher, as well as his dedication to communal and global peace, that we are flourishing today.

The principles presented on this page, in addition to other select precepts, are the fundamentals of New Horizons two main initiatives; the Small “Zones of Peace” Project and the Possible Society In Motion Project . The latter includes the Possible Human, Possible Society Study. The conceptual framework for the two initiatives is identified as New Horizons' “Cultural Mediation Paradigm.”